Haitian orphans arrive at Calgary airport
Last Updated: Thursday, January 28, 2010 | 11:29 AM MT
CBC News
Marla Monro (right), who lives near Cochrane, holds her daughter Melissa at the Calgary airport. (CBC) Two Alberta families landed in Calgary Wednesday night with their adopted children from Haiti.
The two families had flown to Calgary from Ottawa, where a plane full of children from the earthquake ravaged country had arrived earlier in the day.
Marla Munro, who lives near Cochrane, said it was an emotional experience to watch the children walk off the plane and onto Canadian soil.
"Just as the children were all coming down out of the plane, everyone was clapping and crying. Anyways we're so happy to finally have them," she said.
She and her husband, Rocky Munro, returned to Calgary with siblings three-year-old Moustapha and one-year-old Melissa. The couple also has two older adopted children from Haiti.
Jon and Melissa Gartly from Vulcan held two-year-old Nate in their arms as they walked through the Calgary airport Wednesday night.
"It was awesome. He came off that plane and it was just amazing," said Melissa Gartly.
"They said to get his stomach checked out because it was a little enlarged, but other than that he's healthy."
'She's absolutely beautiful'
In Ottawa, Fort Saskatchewan's Bonnie Winarski was able to hold her adopted daughter Sarah Marie in her arms for the first time after a two-year wait.
Bonnie Winarski holds her daughter Sarah Marie shortly after the little girl arrived in Ottawa Wednesday on a flight from Haiti. (CBC) "She's absolutely beautiful," Winarski said.
Winarski had originally flown to Montreal to pick up her daughter, but then learned the flight was going to Ottawa instead.
On Tuesday night, she scrambled to get to Ottawa so she could meet the plane when it landed Wednesday.
Now she is looking forward to getting Sarah Marie home to Alberta.
"To start to settle in and try to build a routine, try and figure out what she likes, what she likes to eat, what fits her body, and just kind of discover everything about her that I can," Winarski said.
The Canadian government fast tracked about 100 Haitian adoptions that were already underway before the deadly earthquake hit two weeks ago. About two dozen Alberta families were in the process of adopting at the time.
Share Tools
Latest Calgary News Headlines
- Alberta radar running again after breakdown
- Predicting severe weather patterns is still presenting a challenge for local weather watchers after four Environment Canada Doppler radars stopped working properly this week. more »
- Inquiry rules on death of troubled Alberta teen
- A fatality inquiry into the death of a mentally troubled Alberta teenager is recommending hospitals tighten rules on all outings for psychiatric patients. more »
- Alberta readies 60 new ambulances for service
- Around 60 new ambulances will soon be whizzing across the province thanks to a large purchase by Alberta Health Services. more »
- Suspicious death in S.E. investigated
- A man was found dead in southeast Calgary early Friday morning in what police are calling suspicious circumstances. more »
Top News Headlines
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges

- The estranged partner of a young mother who was stabbed to death along with her parents at their home in Aylmer, Que., has been charged with first-degree murder Friday. more »
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- B.C. Premier Christy Clark says she is not happy with the RCMP decision to transfer a disgraced Alberta Mountie to the West Coast. more »
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest

- The deaths of five climbers last weekend on Mt. Everest, with more summits underway this weekend, fuels the debate about the risks and responsibilities of high altitude climbing. more »
- Henrique's OT goal sends Devils into Stanley Cup final
- The New Jersey Devils will vie for a potential fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history after defeating the New York Rangers in six games in the Eastern final, courtesy of rookie Adam Henrique's goal early in overtime. more »
- Former MLA questions need for Alberta Party
- Inquiry rules on death of troubled Alberta teen
- Alberta radar running again after breakdown
- Suspicious death in S.E. investigated
- Police couldn’t stop double fatal crash, judge says
- Alberta readies 60 new ambulances for service
- TEDxYYC brings passionate speakers to Calgary today
- Calgary woman who killed mother gets 5 years
- Beltline attack leaves man critically injured

